Answers About Tobacco

TFN E-News Update / October 2019

Updates on the Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing weekly updates on the number of cases of lung injury and death associated with the use of e-cigarettes. The most recent information available can be found here.

E-Cigarette Educational Resources Available on New TFN Webpage

Tobacco Free Nebraska (TFN) has created a new webpage that contains resources that can be used to communicate with community members about the dangers e-cigarettes hold for young people. The site can be found through the shortened URL: DHHS.ne.gov/e-cigarettes or by clicking here.

Nebraska Man’s Death Linked to Vaping

A Nebraska man’s May death was linked to his heavy use of e-cigarettes. His family says he tried e-cigarettes to stop smoking and only used sealed products purchased in chain retailers. Read the story from the New York Times here. Read the Nebraska DHHS press release here.

Emerging Product: IQOS Hits U.S.

In September, Philip Morris International’s heated tobacco product, IQOS, launched in the U.S. The product which was authorized for market in the United States by the FDA in April 2019 is for sale in Atlanta. Learn more about heated tobacco products from the FDA here.

Oglala Sioux Tribe Bans E-Cigarettes on Pine Ridge Reservation

The Oglala Sioux Tribe has passed a new ordinance banning e-cigarettes on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. This ban is the first of its kind among the tribes. Read more here.

Results of BRFSS Shows Evidence of the Impact of Tips® Campaign

A report published in CDC’s journal, Preventing Chronic Disease, affirms prior research that shows the more exposure to Tips® ads that smokers receive, the more likely they are to make a cessation attempt. Read more here.

New Guide Helps Increase Quit Success Among Those with Mental Illnesses

A new advisory released by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) is designed to help clinicians who worked in a mental health facility to implement a tobacco cessation program. Research shows that individuals with serious mental illnesses are as interested in quitting as those without and can do so without jeopardizing their mental health recovery. Read more here.

Tips for Successfully Implementing a Tobacco-Free Workplace Policy

This article from the Ex Program highlights some tips for promoting the benefits of a tobacco-free workplace policy when leadership is not on board. Read more here.

MMWR: Flavored Tobacco Product Use on the Rise Among Students

A report published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) highlights trends in current e-cigarette use among middle and high school students from 2014-2018. Read more here.

Analysis of Adult Smokers’ Experiences Using E-Cigarettes in Smoke-Free Places

Results from a study published in Tobacco Induced Disease, suggest smoke-free policies and reactions from bystanders may impede e-cigarette use among smokers in environments where a smoke-free rule is well-established. Read more here.

October Brings Awareness to Dental Hygiene and the Dangers of Smoking

In this Tips from Former Smokers® story, Brett talks about how he started smoking at age 16 and by his mid-thirties had gum disease. By age 42, he had lost most of his teeth, including 16 during one surgery. In this spot, Brett says that your smile says a lot about you, and smoking can take that smile away.

MMWR Notes from the Field Focuses on E-Cigarette Litter Near Schools

Researchers in San Francisco have examined whether e-cigarettes, tobacco and cannabis products were being littered and causing environmental contamination. Many of these products are made from non-biodegradable plastics and when the products break down can leach nicotine, heavy metals and other toxic chemicals. Read more here.

Study Models the Potential Impact of Menthol Sales Restrictions

Using simulations in a study published in Tobacco Control, researchers projected the impact of certain tobacco control policies. They found that limiting the sale of either all cigarettes or solely menthol cigarettes to only tobacco shops could have the greatest impact on total cost of the product. Read more here.

Free Resource: Making Data Talk

This workbook from National Cancer Institute is designed to help public health professionals select and convey data in a way that audiences can understand. The resource can be accessed digitally or a print copy can be requested. Read more here.

Free NRT Continues With Quitline

Promotional fliers are available to download and share with partners:

Counter Tobacco Photo Contest Underway Until November 4

Counter Tobacco’s annual point-of-sale photo contest is happening now through November 7. This could be an opportunity to draw attention to the amount of money the tobacco industry spends on point-of-sale advertising in your community. Read more here.